By Grace Samuel
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, has disclosed that the Federal Government invested a staggering N309 billion into Agricultural activities across the country to enhance not only food production but including develop the nation’s economy.
Kyari made the disclosure during his presentation of achievement of his ministry in the past one year and the significant impact of the ministry’s initiatives on the country’s .
According to the minister, the ministry the successfully launch of dry season farming, with the cultivation of 118,657 hectares of wheat in 15 states and the support provided to 107,429 wheat farming boost food production. This, he said, resulted in an output of 474,628 metric tons.
Giving detailed measures taken to address persistent food inflation, including the distribution of various agricultural inputs to farmers to enhance production, the minister explained that in the livestock sector, the ministry’s established six micro earth dams and eight boreholes, 164 milk collection centers, eight cottage feed mills, and seven livestock centres.
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Kyari also mentioned the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with John Deere and Tata Africa to assemble and supply tractors and combined harvesters, supporting production.
He mentioned the certification and release of 23 improved crop varieties developed by the country’s agricultural research institutes to Nigerian farmers.
However the minister acknowledged challenges posed by foreign exchange on fertilizer production and its impact on activities boost food production in the country.
He noted ongoing discussions with producers to address this issue.
In a related challenge confronting farmers as regard Tomato Ebola or Tomato Leaf Miner infestation on tomato farms, the minister emphasized on the need to work collectively to find sustainable solutions to the two.
